Pressing machine



L. ZIMARIK ET AL PRESSING MACHINE Original Filed April 14, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet l zfw M$M km W9 W1. ATT RNEYS.

Oct. 16; 1934. zlMARlK ET A 1,976,976

PRESSI NG MACHINE Original Filed April 14, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS.

WvM/aQ-AM M17MM A TTORNEYS.

Oct. 16, 1934. L. ZIMARIK\ ET AL 1,976,976

PRESSING- MACHINE Original Fil ed April 14. 1931 s Sheets-Sheet :s

INVENTORSJ Oct. 16, 1934. L.-ZIMARIK El AL PaEssINq MACHINE ori inal Filed April 14, 1931 I 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 I INVENTORSI 45w; M Y'M KM ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 16, 1934- L. ZIMARIK ET AL H PRESSING'MACHINE Original Filed April 14, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS 1% Z X 2: I I Z 9L zTTaRNEyS Oct. 16, 19340 I... ZIMARIK ET AL 7 PRESSING MACHINE Original Filed April 14, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS.

BY W? mm m ATTO NEYS.

Patented Oct. 16, 1934 UNITED STATES PATEN PRESSING MACE York Application April 14, 1931, Serial No. 530,002

Renewed March 15, 1934 i l'llaims.

This invention relates to pressing machines, particularly machines for pressing cloth where the operations of opening and closing the machine and of feeding the work to and from the machine are automatic, and has for its object, a particularly simple, emcient and compact arrangement of conveyor means relatively to the pressing elements, a. simple and efilcient motor means for controlling the opening and closing of the press and the feeding of the conveyors, and a simple means for limiting the opening of the press in the normal operation to a comparatively short movement, and operable to permit a wide opening movement when the cloth or work is first being started through the press. Other objects will appear throughout the specification.

The invention consists in the novel features and in ,the combinations and constructions herein-- after set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine em bodying our invention, the press being shown as closed.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, parts being omitted, the press being shown as open.

Figure 3 is a plan view of this machine.

Figure 4 is a front elevation thereof, partly broken away.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary, sectional detail view illustrating the motor for closing the press, and the valve for controlling the flow of motive fluid thereto.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary, sectional view of a stop means for limiting the opening of the press in the normal operation to a short throw, and being disconnectible to permit a wide opening of the press.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary elevation looking to the left, of parts seen at the lower or front end of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view showing the control means for the feeding of the conveyor and the closing and opening of the press.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view of the wiring and switch embodying the electric motor and the inching operation.

This machine is primarily intended for pressing and finishing cloth which is brought or fed thereto, usually while damp, the cloth being brought to and between the pressing elements without stretching or applying any tension to it,

and being removed from between the pressing elements without applying tension to it.

The machine comprises generally, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, power means for actuating the movable element, or opening and closing the press repeatedly, stop means for limiting the opening of the press to a comparatively short movement during the repeated operations, and shiftable to permit a wide opening movement, especially when the press is idle. Also, a relative arrangement of the actuating and supporting means for the movable element, so that a con veyor can be arranged to pass the full width of the pressing elements and between the supporting means for the movable element, actuating means for the conveyor, and a timer for controlling the alternate actuation of the motor means for closing the press and the motor means for actuating the conveyor, so that the conveyor is actuated while the press is open, or not closed. The machine further preferably includes operator-operated means for controlling the operation of the conveyor, or performing an inching operation, especially when the work is being started through the press, and the press opening limiting means is disconnected.

The machine further includes means for drying the conveyor belt, the padding on the lower pressing element, and also air blowing means which tends to separate the conveyor from the padding on the lower element, and also means to separate the work from the conveyor and further, an arrangement of the pressing elements relatively to the axis of movement of the movable element so that the opening movement of the press causes the press head to separate from the work by a pivotal movement, or a gradual tearing away movement, rather than a straight, or nearly straight rectilinear lifting movement which would tend to lift the work off the carrier.

Themachine further includes a particularly simple mechanism for rendering the closing of the press impossible when the press head is in its wide open position, this mechanism being operable by the wide opening of the press when the stop or limiting means is disconnected, so that it is impossible to close the machine by power from wide open position, it being understood that such a closing movement might result in injury to a workman replacing a pad, repairing the conveyor etc., or starting or arranging the work-to be pressed between the pressing elements.

1 designates the frame of the machine, which may be of any suitable form, size and construction.

2 and 3 designate respectively, the cooperating pressing elements, these being.in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a lower pressing element or buck 2 mounted on the frame, and an upper pressing element or head 3 which is movable toward and from the buck.

The frame consists of main side members connected by cross bars 4. The side members are preferably in the form of hollow frames or boxes in which the motors for actuating the press head are located. The buck 2 is supported on the upper edges of the side members by brackets 5, leaving the space directly under the buck open from the front to the rear of the frame. The head 3 is carried by spaced apart levers 6 pivoted at 7 between their ends to uprights 8 rising from the rear portions of the main side members of the frame, the levers 6 being connected in any suitable manner at their front ends near the opposite edges of the head 3, the levers being preferably arranged substantially parallel and spaced apart a distance at least equal to, and preferably greater than, the width of the pressing elements in order to provide space for the conveyor means to be presently described.

As here illustrated, each lever 6 is mounted between bifurcated portions 9 of the uprights 8 of the frame, and their forward portions 10 converge inwardly to overhang opposite margins of the head 3. The levers, which extend forwardly and rearwardly, are located beyond the ends of the pressing element, except where they are joined to the press head 3 and hence, leave a passage of greater width than the length of the head 3.

The actuating means for the head comprises, in the illustrated embodiment of my invention, fluid motor means, and preferably a pair of fluid operated motors, one for each lever 6, and motion transmitting means between the motors respectively and the rear arms of the levers 6. Each motor preferably consists of a cylinder 11 having a piston therein, the rod 12 of which is connected through motion transmitting means-to the rear arm of the companion lever 6. Each cylinder is pivoted at 13 within the companion side member of the frame 1, and the piston moves downwardly therein on its power stroke.

The motion transmitting means between each piston rod 12 and its companion lever 6, comprises links 14 and 15 pivoted respectively, at 16 to the rear arm of the companion lever 6, and at 17 to the ba e of the frame, the links being pivoted together at 18 to form a toggle, a pull link 19 pivoted at 20 to one of the toggle links, and at its other end at 21, to the lower end of the piston rod 12. The piston rod is provided with followers or rollers 22 movable along cam slots 23 formed in brackets fixed to the companion side member of the frame 1. There are two cam slots for each piston rod arranged parallel and spaced apart, and the pivot 21 for the link forms a bearing for the rollers 22. During the outstroke of the piston in the cylinder 11, the followers moving along the cam slots 23 cause the link 19 to act as a pull link to straighten the toggle. The piston is single acting, and the press is opened by means of Y countersprings 25, one spring, or set of springs, for each lever 6. The flow of motive fluid to and from the cylinders is controlled, as will be hereinafter described.

The means provided for checking or stopping the opening movement of the press in the normal operation, is here shown as separate from the cylinders 11 and disconnectible in order to permit the press head to open wide. The means here shown is telescoping stop elements as buffer means in the form of a cylinder and plunger or piston for each lever 6.

30 designates the cylinder, which is here shown as pivoted at 31 to have an oscillating movement to one of the main side frame members 1, and 32 is a plunger or piston in the cylinder having its rod 33 connected to the companion lever 6 by a preferably detachable connection. The cylinder preferably has a buffer 36 against which the plunger or piston head bottoms. The buffer is of yielding material usually rubber. The plunger or piston head is so constructed as to permit the air to pass from one side thereof to the other in order to prevent the cylinder from being air bound between the plunger or piston head 32 and the buffer 36.

The cylinder above the plunger or piston head is suitably vented to prevent it from becoming air bound. Usually, the plunger or piston 32 is formed with sufficient clearance between it and the cylinder wall to permit the air to pass by the plunger or piston.

As best seen in Figure 6, the piston rod 33, or coupling head or clevis 37 at the upper end thereof, is formed with a transverse notch or slot 34 for receiving the pivot 16 at the rear end of the companion arm.6, and this slot'is open at one end at 35 for permitting the piston rod to be disconnected from the companion lever 6. The piston rod 33', or the coupling 37 is held from unintentional displacement from pin 16 by suitable latch means, usually friction latch means, as ball 38 seatedin a socket in the top end of the clevis 3'7, said socket breaking through the upper wall of the slot 34, and a spring 39, here shown as a leaf spring, pressing the ball against the pin 16.

During the repeated opening and closing operations, the press head normally opens a comparatively short distance, as shown in Figure 2, and during each opening movement, the plunger or piston head 32 comes in contact with the buffer 36, which absorbs the shock of the short opening movement. When, however, it is desired to replace or repair the padding or conveyor belt or to start the work, as one end of-a bolt of cloth,. through the pressing machine, the piston rods 33 are unhooked from their companion arms 6, permitting the head to be opened by the counter-springs 25, to its full extent giving ample room for the operator to work, or lay the adjacent end of the cloth on the conveyor belt, to be described, between the pressing elements.

The work conveyor is here shown as a belt 40 movable over pairs of rolls 41 and 42 located on opposite sides of, as in front of the pressing elements and in the rear of the pressing elements, and near the same between the levers 6 and the uprights 8, the upper run of the belt moving between the head 3 and buck 2, and the lower run under the buck in the space provided between the main side members of the frame, by reason of the mounting of the buck 2 on the side members by the brackets 5, or equivalent means. The front roll 41 is carried by brackets 44 extending forwardly from the frame.

The means for actuating the conveyor is a 'motor separate from the motor means for actuating the press head, and is here illustrated as aconstantly running electric motor 50, and motion transmitting means between the motor and the conveyor, or one of the rolls 41, 42, as the roll cylinders.

emme 42, this motion transmitting means including a shiftable member shiftable into and out of motion transmitting position to connect and disconnect the conveyor from the motor.

The motor is mounted upon the frame or housing 51, of a portion of the motion transmitting means, which housing is in turn mounted upon the cross members 4 of the main frame. The motion transmitting means includes a speed changing gearing 52 located in the housing 51, the motion of which is delivered to a reduction gearing located in a casing 53, and a belt or sprocket chain 54 running over wheels, as sprock et wheels 55 and 56 on the shaft 57 of the reduction gearing, and on the axle of the roll 42, the pulley 55 being connectible to, and disconnectible from, the shaft 57 by a shiftable member or clutch section 58 which is shiftable into and out of engagement with a clutch section 59 fixed to the pulley 55. The change speed gearing 51 may be of any suitable form, size and'construction, and is here shown as what is known commercially as the Reeves speed changer consisting generally of two pulleys 61 and 62, and a belt running over them, the pulleys being so constructed that they can be in effect increased and reduced in diameter, thus changing the speed ratio between them. Any suitable change speed gearing may be used. The change speed gearing is adjusted to change the speed thereof by manually operated means, as a hand wheel 63, the motion of which is transmitted through suitable means as a sprocket wheel 64 to a screw 65 in the casing which operates shifters 66 and 67 to increase and diminish the eifective diameter of the pulleys.

The motor is connected to the shaft of one of the pulleys, as the pulley 61 through a gear 71 on the motor shaft, and a gear 72 on the shaft of the pulley 61. The motion is delivered from the change speed gearing through a shaft 73 on which the pulley 62 is mounted, and this shaft is connected to the change speed gearing through a suitable means, as a belt or sprocket chain 74. The specific construction of the motion transmitting means forms no part of this invention.

The operation of the motor means for actuating the head, that is, the flow of motive fluid to and from the cylinders, 11, and the operation of the clutch 58 is controlled by a timer actuated by the constantly running motor 50, or the motion transmitting means actuated thereby. This timer, as seen in Figure 4, comprises cams 75 and 76 mounted on a shaft 77 extending out of the gear reduction casing 53, and connected to the gearing therein. The flow of motive fluid, as air, to the cylinders 11 is controlled by a control valve as shown in Figure 5, common to both The valve here shown is a two-way valve consisting of a casing 81 having a reciprocally movable valve member therein, consisting 'of an intake valve head 82, and an exhaust valve head 83 connected together by a stem 84, so that;

they act as a unit.

The intakevalve 82 is heldclosed, and the exhaust valve 83 opened, by a spring 85. The iritake end of the casing is connected to a suitable source of supply of motive fluid, as compressed air, by a pipe 86 having a suitable shut-off valve,

7 not shown therein, which may be closed for permanently euttingofi the air when the machine is idle. The exhaust portion of the casing is connected to an exhaust pipe 87. The intermediate part of the casing between the valve heads is connected to a pipe 88 having branches 89 and 90 connected to the cylinders 11. The valves are operated by the cam which coacts with a stem 91 on a plunger 92 slidable in the casing, the motion of the plunger being transferred to the valve unit, through a cushioning spring 93.

In operation, when the cam depresses the stem 91 of the plunger, the exhaust valve head 83 closes, and the intake valve head 82 opens permitting air to pass from the pipe 86 .past the intake valve head 82 and to the cylinders 11, through the pipes 88, 89 and 90, actuating the pistons on their power strokes and closing thepress head; and holding it closed as long as the cam 75 is engaged with the stem 91. When the cam 75 passes out of engagement with the stem 91, the valve unit consisting of the heads 82, 83 and stem 84 is moved to its starting position, wherein the valve head 82 is closed and the exhaust valve 83 opened, permitting air to exhaust from the cylinders back through pipes 89, 90, 88, valve casing 81, and out through the exhaust pipe 87, permitting the press to open under the influence of the springs 25.

The shiftable member or clutch section 58 is controlled by the cam 76 through a'shifter, as a fork 101, mounted on a shaft 102, and a rock arm 103 mounted on said shaft and having a follower 104 coacting with the cam 76. The cam 76, through the arm 103 and fork 101, normally holds the clutch section 58 out of motion transmitting position, that is, out of engagement with the clutch section 59, against the action of a spring 105.

The cams '75 and 76 are so. relatively arranged that the cam 76 holds the clutch section 58 out of motion transmitting position while the cam 75 is holding the intake valve head 82 open, and the exhaust valve closed, and the cam '76 permits the clutch 58 to engage so that the conveyor will be actuated when the press is open, or not closed. The cams '75 and '76 are timed so that the clutch is thrown in after the head separates from the work on the lower pressing element 2, or the carrier 40, and the control valve is operated to permit air to enter the cylinders after the conveyor has stopped.

The means for removing the cloth from the conveyor belt 40 without stretching it includes a cooperating pair of rolls 111'and 112 mounted in the rear of the roll 42, the rolls 111, 112 being actuated to have the same peripheral speed as the roll 42. It is here shown as connected to the axle of the roll 42 by a belt or sprocket chain 113 running over sprocket wheels 114 and 115 mountfor the purpose of facilitating the starting of the cloth between, the rollers. A stripper or doffer 120 is located adjacent the periphery of the roll 42 for separating the cloth from the conveyor belt. As the cloth leaves the belt, it is passing between the rolls 111 and 112. The opposing surfaces of the rolls 111, 112 are tangent to a-hori- -zontal plane parallel to and slightly above the upper or feed run of the belt 40 so that the cloth or work takes a slight incline upward from the stripper.- In other words, the horizontal line where the rolls 111 and 112 touch each other is located slightly above the level of the upper run of the belt, so that the cloth inclines upwardly slightly, when it is leaving the belt and passing to the rolls. Owing to the relative arrangement 0f the doffer 120 and the rolls 111, 112, the cloth or work is removed from the belt 40 without hav ing tension applied to it.

The conveyor belt 40' is usually of a fibrous material or cloth, and also the rolls 111 and 112 are covered with cloth. The stripper or dofler is used to separate the cloth from the belt 40 without applying tension to the cloth.

The cloth is usually damp and arranged in a container 121 located at the front of the machine.

The cloth passes from the container to the con-- veyor belt 40, and means is provided for removing the wrinkles and otherwise straightening the cloth in its passage from the container to the conveyor 40. The means here shown is a convex guide 130 extending transversely of the cloth, and through which the cloth passes, and springs 123 in advance of the lateral portion of the convex guide, these tending to have an outward oblique smoothing effect on the cloth as the cloth is passing out of the container. These springs, usually coil springs, are fixed at both ends and extend under the cloth occupying a position as shown in Figures 3 and 7. t

The guide consists of a lower arcuate strip 129, and an upper strip 130, the latter being guided at its ends in slots 133 so that it lightly presses with its weight on the cloth between the two strips. The cloth is arranged in loose folds piled one on the other in the container, and as it passes out over the springs and through the arcuate guide, the wrinkles are smoothed out, and the cloth is moved out evenly.

The-flow of current to the motor 50'is controlled by a suitable switch 140 Figure 9, which switch is controlled in its operation by a manually operated switch 141. As here illustrated, the switch 141 when closed, closes the circuit through the windings of a solenoid 142, the core of which is connected to the switch 140 in any suitable manner to close it.

The switch 140 is opened in any suitable manner, as by springs not shown, when the solenoid 142 is deenergized. The switch 141 is operated usually by separate manuals or push buttons 143 and 144 Figure 4, mounted in any convenient place on the machine, preferably on one of the side members of the frame. Depression of one push button 143 closes the switch 141, and depression of the push button 144 opens the switch 141. As switches of this type are well known, and are standard articles of manufacture, description and illustration thereof are thought to be unnecessary.

For the purpose of performing an inching operation, that is, feeding the end of a bolt or length of cloth initially step by step between the pressing elements, operator-operated or manual means is provided for controlling the operation of the motor 50. This consists of a switch 145 connected in shunt in the circuit of the solenoid 142, the switch 145 being normally open and held in open position by a spring 146, Figure 9.

This switch 145 is operated by a manual, as a I push button 147 preferably grouped with the push buttons 143 and 144. Obviously, upon the depression of the push button 147 to close the switch 145, the switch 140 will be closed, permitting the current to flow to the motor 50, and the motor 50 to actuate the conveyor. Immediately upon release of the push button 147, the solenoid will be deenergized, thus permitting the motor and the conveyor to stop. By repeated depressions of the push button 147, the conveyor will be intermittently actuated to feed or inch the cloth between the pressing elements to any desired extent. It will be understood that when the press is open, the cam 75 is out of operative position, or out of engagement with the stem 91 of the control valve for the air to the cylinders and therefore, when the inching push button 147 is depressed, and the press being open, the cam 76 will occupy its position assumed when actuating the shifter arm 103 to hold the clutch 58 in its motion transmitting position. Means, hereinafter described, is provided for preventing closing of the press when wide open, even if the inching operation is continued until the cam 76 releases the shifter lever 103, and the cam 75 engages the stem 91 of the control valve 81.

The end of a length or bolt of cloth after it I has passed between the pressing elements can be quickly guided between the rollers 111 and 112. The roller 112 may be lifted by means of its lever 118 for facilitating the starting of the end of a bolt of cloth between these rollers.

In operation, the head' 3, while open; is allowed to move to wide open position by disconnecting the stop means or piston rods 33 from the levers 6, and the initial run of the cloth -moved by hand out of the container 121 and over onto the conveyor belt 40 and inched between the pressing elements by depressing the push button 147. The piston rods 33 of the stop means are then connected, the motor 50 started by closing the switch 141 in its circuit by one of the push buttons 143, 144, whereupon the timer cams are operated so that the press is closed and opened, and while opened, or opening, the conveyor belt actuated to carry the cloth between the press heads.

These opening, closing and feeding operations are repeated until the entire bolt or length of cloth is pressed and shrunk. The machine is stopped by opening the switch 141.

The head 3 and the buck 2 are wide from front to rear compared with the pressing elements of pressing machines heretofore used, and their inner edges, that is, their edges toward the pivot 7 of the lever 6 are located near the pivot 7, and the upper or feed run of the belt 40 extends in a radial direction to the pivot 7. Also, the buck 2 is usually provided with a resilient compressible pad, as a spring pad 150, and the front and rear edges, that is, the edges located near the pivot 7 and remote from the pivot 7 are subject to less pressure than the remainder of the padding, because the springs along the front and rear edges are either somewhat shorter, or stand at an incline so that they flex outwardly during the compression of the pad. Hence, less pressure is applied to the work at the frontand rear edges of the head 3 and buck 2 during the pressing operation, and this results in eliminating all liability of any cross-marks or imprints on the cloth or articles being pressed, showing the outline of the press head. In pressing rolls or bolts of cloth, it is essential that there be no cross lines or imprints left on the cloth.

In order to loosen the belt, which is of fabric from the pad, after each pressing operation, and also in order to dry the padding and the belt, and also dry the work and loosen it from the belt, means is provided for blowing heated air to between the pressing elements, or through the padding 150. This means consists of an electrically driven blower 151 discharging through a pipe 152 into a chamber in the interior chamber in the buck 2 whence it passes through perforations into the pad 150, through the pervious or porous cover- ISO 1,976,976 ing of the spring pad, and through the belt 40,.

which is pervious or porous. The blower is actuated in any suitable manner, as by an electric motor 153 which is usually constantly running. As is well known, the pressing elements of pressing machines are usually heated internally, and are also usually heated by steam circulating through a steam chamber within the pressing elements. Both the pressing elements 2 and 3 are steam heated, but insofar as the feature to be presently described is concerned, it is necessary that only the lower pressing element 2 be heated.

Preferably, the heat radiating from the lower pressing element or buck 2 is utilized to heat air in a chamber for supplying heated air to the blower, and also for heating the lower or return run of the belt 40, which passes through the chamber.

The chamber is provided by closing in the space beneath the buck 2 by means of plates 155 and 156 mounted on the upper edges of the main side frame members 1, and also closing the outer sides and the front and back of the space between the frame members 1 by plates 157 and 158. Any suitable inlet for air may be provided as the opening 159 in one of the plates. Thus, the lower run of the belt passes through the heating chamber and is dried therein, and also the fan draws air from the heating chamber to be passed through the padding and the upper run of the belt, and the air in the heating chamber is heated by heat radiated from the lower buck 2.

When the pad is being replaced, or when it is necessary to lay the work between the pressing elements, as when a new roll of cloth is being started through the machine, or for any other purpose, where the wide opening of the head is desirable, the stop means or the rods 33 are disconnected or unhooked from the rear arms of the levers 6, permitting the press head 3 to be opened wide by the springs 25 in order to give ample space to work in between the pressing elements 2, 3. In order to prevent the closing or the slamming closed of the press head from wide open position by the power means, mechanism is provided for rendering the power means ineffective on the press head 3, this mechanism being operated automatically by the wide opening of the head 3, and resettable by hand.

In the illustrated embodiment of our invention, this mechanism consists in means for cutting ofi the power or the air to the cylinders 11, and comprises a normally open cut-off valve 160 in the feed pipe 86, and means operated by the press head, or some part'movable therewith to close the valve 160 when the press head moves to wide open position. As here illustrated, the valve 160 has an actuator 161 arranged in the path of the toggle link 15 when the toggle link passes beyond line 162. The valve 160, when closed, remains closed until reopened by the operator, and for this purpose is provided with a resetting handle 163. The stop means consisting of the cylinder 30, piston 32 and rod 33, normally prevents the press from opening far enough for the toggle link 15 to engage the actuator 167, or

- pass beyond the position indicated by the line 162. When however, the stop means is disconnected and the springs 25 open the press head 3 to wide open position, the link 15 passes beyond line 162, and engages the actuator 161, to close the valve 160.

Before the machine can be started in its normal operation, the press head must be again closed far enough to again connect the rod 33 of the stop means to the lever 6, and the valve 160 opened by hand. Also, while the press head is in Wide open position, the belt can be inched along any distance without the press head closing.

Owing to the stop means, the opening movement of the head is limited to a comparatively short throw in the normal operation of the press, so that the operation of the press is rapid. To vary the speed of the operation, the hand wheel 63 is turned, which adjusts the Reeves change speed gearing 52 and consequently adjusts the timer cams 75, 76. Owing to the mounting of the buck, and the mounting of the cylinders 11 on, or in opposing side members of the frame, and the carrying of the head by spaced apart levers, ample space is left between the levers and underneath the buck or lower pressing element 2 for the conveyor and other mechanism. The rear of the machine where thecloth is delivered is unobstructed by mechanism,-and the arrangement of the cylinders or other motor means, one for each lever 6 contributes to the compactness of the machine.

Owing to separate motor means for closing the press and. for actuating the conveyor, the control of the conveyor and the closing of the press can be effected or timed automatically by one motor means, which in this embodiment of my invention, is the motor means which actuates the conveyor.

Owing to the means for automatically cutting off the power to the valve for the press head, when the head is wide open, danger to the operator is avoided.

Owing to the heating chamber and, its arrangement, the belt is kept dry and heated air supplied for blowing through the padding, feed run of the belt and the work, in an extremely simple, economical manner.

Further owing to the relative arrangement of the pressing elements and the belt to the axis of the head carrying levers, the head strips from the work with a gradual angular tearing away movement as distinguished from a rectilinear 120 pulling movement.

What we claim is:

1. In a pressing machine, a frame, upper and lower cooperating pressing elements, the lower pressing element being mounted on the frame, a 125 pair of levers pivoted to the frame and connected at like ends to the upper pressing element, the levers being spaced apart to form a passage for a work conveyor, the work conveyor comprising a pair of rolls carried respectively in front of and 139 in the rear of the pressing elements, and a belt running over the rolls with the upper run thereof passing between the pressing elements, and the lower run under the lower pressirg element, fluid operated motor means carried by the frame below the lower run of the belt and extending on opposite sides thereof, and connected to the levers, a constantly running motor, and motion transmitting means between the same and the conveyor supported below the conveyor between the frame members and including a member shiftable into and out of motion transmitting position, and a timer means operated by the last mentioned motion transmitting means to operate the shifter and control the flow of motive fluid to the fluid 145 motor means.

2. In a pressing machine, a frame comprising opposing main members, upper and lower cooperating pressing elements, the lower pressing elebers and bridging across the same, a pair of levers pivoted to the main frame members and connected at like ends to the upper pressing element, the levers being spaced apart to form a passage for a work conveyor, the work conveyor comprising a pair of rolls carried respectively on opposite sides of the pressing elements between the main frame members, and a belt running over the rolls with the upper run thereof passing between the pressing elements, and the lower run under the lower pressing element, apair of fluidoperated motors carried by the main frame members and connected-respectively to the levers, a motor, and motion transmitting means between the same and the conveyor located blow the conveyor between the frame members and including a member shiftable into and out of motion transmitting position, and a timer means operated by the last mentioned motion transmitting means to operate the shifter and control the flow of motive fluid to the fluid motors.

3. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, lever means carrying the movable element, a compressible padding on the other element, said elements having comparatively wide pressing faces arranged with their inner edges located near the axis of the lever means, whereby the edge of the movable element toward the axis of the lever means normally has a small separating movement from the other element, a work conveyor having a portion movable between the elements and overlying the padding and extending in a radial direction relative to the axis of the lever means, means for blowing air through the padding, and the padding embodying means at its edges near the axis of the lever means and remote therefrom for compressing less than the remainder of the pad and thereby applying less pressure at said edges of the pad, all whereby ow ng to the location of the axis of the lever means relatively to the adjacent edges of the pressing elements, the movable element when opening strips from the work without lifting it from the conveyor, and the air blowing loosens the conveyor from the padding and also loosens the work from the conveyor.

4. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, a work conveyor movable between the pressing elements, power means for alternately actuating the movable element and the conveyor belt, means for normally limiting the opening movement of the movable element to a. comparatively short movement and operable to permit a wide opening movement, and means operable by the wide opening movement of the movable element to prevent the closing of the movable element by the power means.

5. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, a work conveyor movable between the pressing elements, power means for alternately actuating the movable element and the conveyor belt, means for normally limiting the opening movement of the movable element to a comparatively short movement and operable to permit a wide opening movement, and means operable by the wide opening movement of the movable element for cutting off the flow of power to the power means which actuates the movable element. 1

6. In a cloth pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, means for actuating the movable element through repeated operations in the normal operation of the machine to open and close the same, means for conveying the work to and from between the pressing elements in the normal operation, telescoping stop means for limiting the opening of the press to a comparatively short movement during the normal repeated operations, and means for disconnecting the telescoping stop means, to permit wide opening of the press and means operated by the wide opening for rendering the actuating means inoperative.

7. In a pressing machine, upper and lower pressing elements, the upper pressing element being movable toward and from the lower, means for supporting the upper element, a compressible padding on the lower element having its upper face substantially flat throughout the area of the padding, a work conveyor having a portion movable between said elements over the padding, the compressible padding having means at its opposite edges to apply less pressure, when compressed, to the conveyor and the work thereon against the head than the remainder-of the compressible padding.

. LOUIS ZIMARIK.

CHARLES K. CIMARIK. 

